Work guiding means for shoe sewing machines



Feb, 3, 11948. F. ASHWORTH WORK GUIDING MEANS FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES Filed Sept. 12, 1945 4 sheets sheet l F. ASHWORTH 2,435,193

WORK GUIDING MEANS FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES 7 Feb. 3, 1948. F. ASHWORTFI 2,435,193

\ WORK GUIDING MEANS FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES I Ef-iled Sept. 12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet s Feb. 3, 1948; ASIHWORYTH 2,435,193

I WORK GUIDING MEANS FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES 7 Filed Sept. 12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WORK GUIDING MEANS FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES Fred Ashworth, Wenham, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey 12 Claims. 1 v

The present invention relates to work guiding means for machines constructed to sew the outsole to the welted upper and insole of a lasted Goodyear welt shoe, and more particularly to improvements in sewing machines such as that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,296,888, granted September 29, 1942, on an application filed in the name of Carl F. Whitaker, having a sole edge gage'and crease guide arranged to prevent the inseam of a Goodyear welt shoe from being cut by the stitch forming devices during the insertion of the outseam.

The objects of the present invention are generally similar to those of the patent referred to, in which cutting or other damage to the inseam along the shank portion of a shoe is prevented when sewing the outsole to the welt of the shoe as the shoe is tipped about the point of operation of the machine, except that the purposes of the present invention are not only to prevent cutting the inseam along the forepart and shank portions of the shoe, as in the patented machine, but also to insure and facilitate proper insertion of the outseam along the sides of the heel seat'portion of the shoe along which the projecting marginal portions of the outsole and welt are relatively narrow and the crevice between the upper and the welt is extremely shallow so that the shoe must be urged with a heavier pressure and greater precautions are required than while sewing either shank or forepart portions of the shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an outsole shoe sewing machine a novel and improved guide conveniently shiftable to any of three positions to facilitate sewing along different marginal portions of a shoe, particularly along the heel seat as well as the shank and forepartportions and to insure accurate movement of the guide to any of these positions through simply performed and eiiective adjustments during operation of the machine.

In the machine of the Whitaker patent, the edge gage and crease guide are adjustable during sewing operations to insure location of the marginal portions of the shoe in either of two positions, one of which is efiectivein guiding the shoe properly along the forepart, and the other along the shank of the shoe to prevent cutting the inseam. It has been found desirable in many instances to start an outseam somewhat ahead of the shank portion of the shoe and to insert stitches overlapping the heel seat portion. As illustrated herein, the outseam connecting the welted upper and outsole does extend to this portion of the shoe.

A common practice is to trim oil the projecting margin of the sole edge after sewing along the heel seat portion to such an extent as to provide no substantial extension beyond the bulging upper, The outseam is therefore inserted as far as possible within the crease between the extension and upper to avoid cutting the stitches while trimming. Accordingly, it is essential to avoid any possibility of restricting the extent to which the shoe may be forced against the work support of the machine on which the outseam is sewed to insure insertion of stitches deeply within the crease along this portion of the shoe. For this purpose, it is desirable to shift the sole edgegage to an extreme rearward position entirely out of reach or possible engagement with the sole edge. If a movable crease guide is employed as in the patented machine, this too must be shifted rearwardly. When the shank of the shoe is reached, with the inseam connecting the welt to the upper and insole, the edge gage or other guiding means should, for best results, be moved to an intermediate position to protect the inseam from contact with the sewing instrumentalities and, along the forepart, the edge gage should be shifted to a third position to secure a uniform guiding action with the shoe presented to the machine in a substantially flat untilted position. To insure proper shifting movement of a shoe guidingedge gage positively and accurately in these three positions during sewing operations, it is necessary to provide in addition to the usual manually operable adjusting arm a suitable third position shift- I ing means, both of which ma be actuated by easily accomplished manipulations on the part of the operator without complicated and time-consuming efforts.

In accordance with these objects of the invention, one feature resides in an outsole shoe sewing machine having an adjustable edge gage and a manually operable regulating arm mounted for limited movement to shift the edge gage during sewing operations to either of two positions.determined by the limits of movement of the arm, in which there is provided means actuable during sewing operations to shift the edge gage to a third position. feature, the third position shifting means is mounted on the manually operable edge gage regulating arm so that the attention of the operator need not be diverted from the regulating arm which is customarily employed for edge gage adjusting purposes while shifting the edge gage toward and from its several positions.

In the illustrated form of this i Preferably, locking means also is provided for preventing movement of the third position shifting means except in one position of the regulating arm. With such arrangement, it will be possible to shift the edge gage only through a definite sequential movement. In this way, shifting movement of vzthe edge qgage will zbe l limited i to three positions, and "combined'movements ofthe arm and third position shifting means will confine the movements of the edge gage accordingly. Another purpose of the lockingmeansis: to; prevent continuous movement of the edge gagerfrom oneextreme adjusted position tothe other extreme position in the oppcsite'direction without stopping in an intermediate position. I

These and other objects and features "O'f'th invention will become apparentfircm-a consideration of the followin description and theappended claims taken inv connection withthe accompanying drawings, I in which Fig; l is a view in right-handssideielevation of a'portion oi ashoe outsoie sewingrmachinerhavingan edge gage actuainn'g: mechanismremlmdying ,th zieatureslof-the preesntinvention:

Fig.12 is asdetailedmf-ew,on-ranuenlarged scale, :of :the :edge :gage :adiustingzsegment :of the mairehine illustrated in ,1

z-Eigafi isarsimila'r .detailedwiew of onecoi :the sconnections :for actuating :the; segment in Fig. 2;

fig.xesis1;a.-hottom1 lan viewzoi a Goodyear welt :shoe, indicatingathe positions-f .theainseam with :reiation :to :the :outseam when the putseaan 1i's zinser-ted on :the :machine pi :the present :invenatsthezheelsseat oiitheshoeillustrated in Fi .4, :taken along'the-line V-V of Fig. 4 during sew- -ing operations;

.Figs.- 6 and 7 are similar sectional views-taken at the, shank :andiorepazr-t alongthe lines VI-VI and vllvllyrespectively of Fig.4 during sewingoperations;

,Fig. .8 is a ,view in front elevation. of the *edge =ga e and adjusting .mechanism of the machine;

Fig.9 ,is a plan viewrpartly iii-section, of the -mechanism .illustratedlin Fig. .8 showing :the positionsof the :parts -.when the edge gage is imoved ,to .iextreme retracted .posi-tion :to enable sewing .alongthe heelseat-otashoe, was in Fig. 5;

.Fig. .10 isaplan view, omen-enlarged scale, of ,a .portion of the connections in the :mechanism dime- Fig. .11 :is .a sectional view .of the parts illustratedin Fig. .10, wtakenalong the .lineXI-XI;

Elg. 12 .is .a plan view, on areducedv scale, of the edge gage adjusting mechanism, illustrating the positions of the parts assumed .while the edge gage is adjusted ,to anintermediate position for sewing along the shank .of ashoeas inFig. 6.;

Fig. I -is .a similar plan View, .on .an enlarged scal with the parts ,in the same positions and with the adjusting segment broken away and h w in ection to discl e the. underlying .con-

stru on;

Fig.,.i14jis afslmilar view of thesame. parts in the same ,positions as seen along the line "Fig. 15 'is a ,plan view, on a reduced scale, of the-edge gage -ad"ustin mechanism, illustrating positions ofthe arts While the edge ga eis shiftedtto;its-foremostposition for sewing along the forepart of the shoe, as in Fig. 7;

lfiis'a similar-view, on an enlarged scale, of the same parts ,in'the same position,-'with the adjusting segment broken away and shown in section similar to that of Fig. 13 to disclose the operating connections;

Fig. 17 is a similar view of the connections in the same positions indicated in Fig, 16 as viewed along the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 11;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of a modified form of edge ggage andradjusting mechanism ioperating in a manner similar to that'illustratedin Figs. 1 to 17, inclusive, indicating the positions of the parts "while the edge gage is in a fully retracted posi- -.tion ior- .sewing.:along the heel seat of a shoe, as

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the same mechanism, indicatingthepositions of the parts with the edge gagfi inan intermediate position for sewing along "the shank'ofthe'shoe, as in Fig. 6; and

:Fig'20 isashnilar wiew of the same parts, some of which are broken away and illustrated in sec- 'tion,"taken while the edge gage is in its foremost position for sewing along the forepart of the ;shoe,as:in Fig.l-7.

vThemachine of izhezdrawings is intended to sew :together the :marginal portions titan 'outsolecand a"welt:iof:a Goodyear-welt :shoe with T2... seam extending." from the: heeliseatiatpne sida along the shank to'the Lforepart and then at the other side of i the shoe :returning'.to'=the7iheel rseat. In sew- ;ing ran 'outseam, it fisinecessary'toi-m'aintain the projecting :marginal portions of the shoe -parts woperated upon improper-relationship to the stitch forming devices of the machine-and, in: so doing, frequent difficulty is "encountered, according to common shoe practices, inmain taining the out- .seam clear. or theinseam which connects" the welt to thezupperand insole of the shoe.

i'In'Fig, 4, the outsole ot-a Goo'dyear-welt shoe is illustrated at 22 7 having -'"-a partially completed outseam 'fl connecting the'outsole with a welt"2 6 (see-Figs. -5, fiiand'l'). The welt' ili is connected to a -=shoe upper f 28 :and an insole 30 by an inseam 32, represented in plan in'-Fig. 4. In sewing the outseam, it is eommon practice toemploy anedgegagdto=determine the location of the out- -seam:about -the-forepart of the shoe and to re- -trac't the edg gage-'fromengagement with the shoe sole while sewingalong the-shank, to enable the shoe to be pressed -"against the-machine and :tilted sufficiently ''-"for proper insertion of stitches at-a suitable-distance'from the extreme edges of the outsole'and'welt. In ressing the shoe against the machine alon the'shank and heel seat,the upper engages *the outer inclined 'surface of a work support 84,'the shoe being tilted to enable the work supportto enterthe crease formed by theproiecting: marginal portions of the welt and thesurface of the upper which is stretched-about a'lastt'G. Asin'allmachines "of this nature, the projecting marginal portions'of-the welt and outsDle'a-re clampedduring stitch'formation against -the*woi-k support by'apresser foot 35.

Along the forepart of "the shoe, the'last contourswings away-"abruptly fromthe "welt so that dire-work -support'may enter the crease readily without tiltingthe shoe, "thershoe -being easily guided 'by -a:so'le edge a e. .Along 'the shank, 'howevergthe'contourof the lastis such that the crease forms 'a relatively-acute angle with the upperengaging the lower edge of the work sup- ;port and tending "toho'ld the shoe away from the sewingpoint in themachine. To ofiset this tendency, itQis a practice to retract the edge gage and "to tilttheshoe as indisatedin'FigJB. In so doing, 'a-new, 'difiicultyisjpresentedby a danger of intersecting the threads in theinseam'by the outsole stitch forming devices, frequently'to such an extent as to sever the inseam threads or seriously weaken them. For this reason, an adjustable crease guide, provided in the machine of the Whitaker patent above referred to, is shifted to hold the inseam clear of the stitch forming devices while sewing the outseam 24 along the shank of the shoe. The mechanism for shifting the crease guide and for retracting the edge gage while sewing along the forepart is comparatively simple and direct acting, a regulating handle being provided which is movable manually to either of two positions. The two positions of the handle in the Whitaker machine are determined by lim iting stops provided in'the machine so that a simple operation only is required to shift the crease guide and adjust the edge gage alternatively to either of two corresponding operative positions.

In most types of outseam work, it has been found desirable to sew the outseam not only about the forepart of a shoe and along the shank but also to begin the sewing operations from a point overlapping the heel seat ahead of the extreme end of the inseam, as indicated in Fig. 4. The outseam is then continued entirely around the shoe to a point overlapping the heel seat beyond the end of the inseam on the other side, the boundary of the heel seat being to the right of the line V-V. With a shiftable crease guide, such as that employed in the Whitaker machine, provision is made for changing the position of the crease guide and edge gage together in such a way that, when the crease guide is moved out of operative position, the edge gage .moves into operative position, and vice versa. In order to sew any portion of the heel seat in a shoe, it has been found necessary to insert the outseam without restriction from either an edge gage or a crease guide. Thus the alternatively acting adjusting mechanism of the Whitaker machine does not provide the proper conditions for sewing an outseam in this way, either the edge gage or the crease guide acting at all times. Whatever the guiding member, therefore, the present invention contemplates shifting it selectively into any of three predetermined positions .to enable the heel seat to be sewed, rather than two as with the Whitaker mechanism. In accomplishing this result, it is necessary to provide an adjusting mechanism by means of which a shiftmay be made instantly without special precautions or attention on the part of the operator. Otherwise, the adjustment will become so burdensome as to more than offset the benefits obtained in eliminating damage to the inseam and in insuring proper insertion of stitches along the heel seat portion of the shoe.

The actuating mechanism for the guiding means of the present invention, accordingly, comprises simply actuated and accurately controlled connections for adjusting an edge gage, indicated at 38, to any one of three positions at the will of the operator. The edge gage, when actuated by the said mechanism, will be entirely disengaged from the marginal portions of the outsole and welt along the heel seat portion of the shoe as indicated in Fig. 5, so that the stitches will be inserted as far as possible from the extreme edges of the outsole and welt where there will be no opportunity of damage to the outseam even when the outsole is trimmed unusually close to the upper. The edge gage also may be shifted to an intermediate position where the outsole and welt may be guided properly to prevent the stitches of the inseam from being intersected by the outseam stitchforming devices, as in Fig. 6, and to an extreme forward position for guiding the outseam along the forepart of the shoe, asin Fig. 7, for the usual forepart sewing operations.

The mechanism for regulating the edge gage in this way includes a manually operable handle 39 formed at the end of an arm 4t, and a second manually operative handle provided by an arm 42 mounted on but movable relatively to the arm 40 about a pivot consisting of a, rod at bent at its upper end to serve as a guard. When the arm til is moved as far as possible in either direction, it adjusts the edge gage between the intermediate position of Fig. 6 and the extreme forward position of Fig. '7. When the second arm 4.2 is moved, it shifts the edge ga e between the intermediate position of Fig. 6 and the extreme rearward retracted position of Fig. 5 beyond that determined by the limits of movement of-the arm 40, the arm 40 remaining stationary. Locking means also is provided to prevent operation of the arm 49 when the edge gage is shifted to extreme retracted position of Fig. 5 and to prevent movement of the arm 42 when the edge gage is adjusted to its extremeforward position of Fig. 7.

The connections for adjusting the edge gage between the extreme forward position of Fig. 7 and the intermediate position of Fig. 6 are similar to those illustrated in the Whitaker patent and include a carrier 46 pivoted at its lower end on a fixed stud 48 and retained by a spring oil in contact with a cam 52 engaging'the upper end of the gage. The cam 52 is secured to a vertical shaft 54 having at its lower end a pinion 56 meshing with a segment 58 fixedly connected with the upper end of an adjusting shaft 6!] to the lower end of which the arm 40 is pinned.

The adjusting arm 40 is capable of limited movement with the adjusting shaft 60. To limit the rearward movement of the arm 40 while adjusting the edge gage forwardly, the arm has projecting from its hub a lug arranged to contact with a setscrew 62 threaded into a projecting portion of the machine frame from a bearing for the shaft 60. The forward movement of the arm 40 also is limited. The upper end of the adjusting shaft has secured to it a plate-like connecting member 64 (see Fig. 3) having a cam slot 66 at one side of the shaft 60 within which is disposed a pin 88 passing through an L-shaped slot H1 in and adjacent fixed projecting portion of the machine frame. When the arm 40 is moved forwardly, the slotted portion of the member 64 and the pin 68 are moved rearwardly of the machine until the pin engages the angle of the slot 10 where further movement of the member and arm is arrested.

As in the prior machines, the handle of the adjusting arm 32 is moved by the operator through a single rapid manipulation between the limits of its movement to change the position of the edge gage, the movement limiting meansbeing depended upon to secure the proper adjusted position without the exercise of special attention upon the part of the operator. To retain the adjusting arm and shaft in position after being moved, the bearing for the shafttil is slotted at l2 and is adjustably contracted along the slotted portion against the shaft by a clamp screw M passing through an enlargement in the slotted portion of the bearing to impart a frictional resistance against rotating the shaft.

treated position of Rig. .5, the shifting term 42 which moves with the adjusting arm 40 is opennted still in .a forward direction without comnesponding movement of :the adjusting am All. The shitting 31111342, thereforaswings :on its pivot M, "causing a rearward projecting portion of the shifting arm 42 connected through :a link :16 :to a slide .18 to be moved to the right. The slide 18 passes radially through an enlarged per- :iorated portion of the shaft fill and supports at its extreme left end the pin -68 in vertical posiwhilepermitting the pin to slide horizontally. To guide the gain in vertical position, the :left end :of the slide t8 has a rectangular head fill embraced loosely between a pair of parallel nom's :82 extending irom :the enlarged portion of the strait '60. When theslide I8 is moved from left to right, :the lower end 'of the pin -68 moves along a radial :portion of the slot H1. During this movement, the upper end of the "pin 68 moves along the .slot -66 in the member 64 which has :a short portion substantially parallel with the .radialportionoi the slot in and an inclined :portion which :causes movement of the member 64 relatively to the machine frame which the :slot :10 is iicrmed. This relative movement of the "member 64 causes the segment 58 which is ad- .iostably clamped thereto 'by an eccentric bushing and clanrp screw adevice :H torbe moved to a .thirdposition and thcaedge gage ztozbe slliited to its extreme retractedmosition of .Fig. 5,-the:movemerit nf the slide 1B and Lthe :arm 42 being limited by the -:ends 10f the :s'lot 166 and of the portion lotslot H.

To the edge :forward ly from its extreme retracted position of .Fig. 5 to :its intermedate position of Fig. 6, the arm 42 is moved 'rearwardly about :its pivot 44 sufiicientlyto carry the :pin K68 itoward left from the position of Fig. .19 :to that of :Figs. 13 and In so :doing, the inclined portion of the slot-6.6 in the :connecting (member 54 (causes the member 64 and attached segment 58 to he moved iorwarclly. As .soon as the pin 68 has freached'the limit of its travel at :theendaoi the slot 65, :the handle portion of the arm =40 fmay bennoveii rearwardly tcadjust the edgeiga ge from the intermediate position of "Fig. .6 to theextreme forward position of Fi 7. In so doin-g, the connectingmemberfill :and segment 58 areimoved'to-theipositions of Figs. v15 to l'Lininclusive, there being no possibility of further movement of therarm di! about its :p'ivot 4'4 dnthis direction.

The locking means for preventing-operation of the adjusting arm 40 when the edge gage is moved to its fully retracted position of Fig. 5 comprises the L-shaped slot -10 .in the machine ,frame and is *so arranged that, when the pin 68 'is-inthe radialportionof the slot, as lnFig. 10, it is impossible to :move the adjusting arm All. On account-of the position of the pin '68 inthe radial portionof theslot .10., the pin being guided for movement between the-arms 82 projecting'irom the adfiusting .shaft $0.1m la direction parallel to the radial portion of theslot 10, no movement of the adjusting arm '40 is permitted. To prevent movement of theshiftinga-rm42 when the edge gageiis inits extreme .iorwaizdiposition .oiFig. '7, ithepinffl, beingin theoutermost portion of the .L-shaped slot TILisretained in this position by said outermost iportion. Accordingly, it .is impossible to shift theedgegage beyond its intermediate position. without causing it .to come to rest momentarily. .i'lheitwoiarms ill and 42 are i8 accordingly manipulated at different times so that there is no possibility of moving the two simultaneously. On account of the limitations in movement of the two handles on the arms 50 and 42, the position of the edge gage may be changed with accuracy to any of its three positions by moving the respective handles as far as possible in each instance, a simple direct movement only being necessary. If desired, the position of the edge gage may be changed merely by shifting the handle of the arm 42 by maintaining a continual grasp on the handle while sewing the heel seat and shank of the shoe and releasing it only along the .forepart, so that full control of the shoe :may be obtained with both hands supporting the shoe along the forepart to present it properly to the stitch forming devices. However, under extreme conditions it is necessary to support the shoe in the machine as rigidly as possible at all times. Under such conditions it is desirable to employ both hands to support the shoe (and to tap theproper handle momentarily as required.

To shift the edge gage from one position to another merely by moving the shifting handled the arm 42, it is necessary to move the handle bodily with th adjusting arm 43 to-shift theedge gage from-its extreme forward po:ition of Fig. "I to its intermediate position of Fig. 6 and to rotate the handle of the arm 42 on its pivot rod 44 .to shift the edge gage from its intermediate to its extreme retracted :position of Fig. 5. Thus, the attention of the operator :need be directed only to a single adjusting handle as heretofore while imparting a shifting movement to the edge gage to a predetermined third fixed position.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. .18 to 20, inclusive, a similar arrangement of edge gage mechanism is provided having two regulating arms 84 and 86, the handle portions of which extend into substantially the same relationship to the machine as in the embodiment of the invention already described, the shifting arm 85 being pivotally mounted on the adjusting arm -84 at 81. In Fig. 18, the edge gage djusting :arm

- 84 is similar to that in the machine disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,271,611, granted February 3, 1942, upon an application filed in the name of Fred Ashworthand Carl 'F. Whitaker, more particularly in connection with Figs. 3 and 16 of that patent.

The adjusting arm 84 is a part of a handcontrolled lever fulcrumed on a 'pivot consisting .of a relatively fixed stud screw 83. The lever including the adjusting arm 8 instead of comprising a segmental arm as in the machine of the patent, in this embodiment of the invention, is connected to a rack 99 the teeth of which mesh with'a pinion 92 mountedat the lower end of a vertical adjusting shafted the upper end of which carries an adjusting cam 96 engaging the rearward arm of an edge gage in the form of a lever 98 pivotally-mounted at I99 on themachine :frame.

The connections between the regulating arms 84, 86 and the rack 98 which enable the edge gage tobe moved to different positions comprise aslide I94 guided-in the machine frame,-to which slide the rack is adjustably secured, a pin I06 passing through an inclined cam slot I'll-8 in the slide 194, and a bar H9 slidably mounted in bearings H2 on the arm 84, at the left-hand .end of which bar orrod M9, the pin I66 is fixed. The right-hand end of the rod H0 is notched-to receive .a pivot H4 in a rcarwardly extending portion of .the arm 85, the arrangement being such that movement of the adjusting arm 34 causes the slide I 04 and rack 90 to be reciprocated and the dge gage to be shifted from extreme forward position to intermediate position. Movement of the arm 8,6 thereafter causes the edge gage to be shifted from intermediate position to extreme rearward retracted position.

Referring to Fig. 18, the edge gage is illustrated in extreme retracted position, and the arm 86 in forward position. In moving the arm 86 into forward position, the pin I06 is carried to the right inclined end of the slot 08, moving the slide rearwardly. This rearward movement is the result of the camming action between the pin I06 and the inclined end of the slot I08, the pin being guided in a straight path on the rod I I0. When the arm 86 is moved rearwardly with relation to the arm 84, the pin I 06 occupies a position at the left-hand end of the slot I08 in the slide I04, and the edge gage is shifted to intermediate position as in Fig. 19. Upon movement of the arm 84, the slide and rack are advanced to the extreme forward position, and the edg gage is shifted correspondingly s in Fig. 20.

The means for locking the arms 84 and 85 except for proper sequential movement includes a plate II6 secured to the machine frame by a pair of screws I I8. Th plate I I6 is provided with an L-shaped slot I20 into which the lower end of the pin I06 is guided, the locking action being the same as that described in connection with the L-shaped slot I in the construction illustrated in connection with Figs. 1 to 17, inclusive.

With the edge gage adjusting mechanism of the invention, suitable control may be exercised with certainty along all portions of the outseam including that inserted opposite the heel seat of a shoe. Not only is certain and accurate control of the sewing operations obtained by moving the edge gage selectively into any of three positions but the edge gage is maintained along the shank of a shoe in a position which will forestall injury to the inseam with uniformly good results.

In the case of the present machine as illustrated in Fig. 1, the stitch forming devices inelude a curved hook needle I22, an awl I24, and a shuttle I26. The needle and the awl are actuated to form perforations in the work and to carry loops of thread through the work in the usual way along paths indicated at I28 in Figs. to 7, inclusive. With particular reference to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the sole edge of the shoe is held positively by the edge gage 38 with the inseam 32 at a definite distance from the operating paths of the needle and awl, thus preventing injury to the thread in the inseam so that, in cases of irregularity along the shank of a shoe, particularly where slight displacement occurs in the location of the inseam in the shoe, the edge gage will prevent intersection of the inseam by the stitch forming devices. This result is obtained without impeding the insertion of outsole stitches overlapping the heel seat while the shoe may be guided properly about the forepart and the necessity for complicated and difiicult adjustments are avoided. Furthermore, selective shifting of the edge gage into any of three positions may be accomplished through manipulation of a single adjusting device easily operable by one hand with assurance that movement will not be carried through the intermediate position, the parts being locked against such actuation.

The nature and scope of the invention having 10 been indicated and an-embodiment having been specifically described, what is claimed is:

1. An outsole shoe sewing machine having a work support, a needle, an edge gage, and a manually operable arm mounted for limited movement to move the edge gage during sewing operations to either of two positions determined by the limits of arm movement, in combination with means actuable during sewing operations to shift the edge gage to a third position.

2. An outsole shoe sewing machine having a work support, a needle, an edge gage, and a manually operable arm mounted for limited movement to move the edge gage during sewing operations to either of two positions determined by the limits of arm movement, in combination with means mounted on the arm and operable manually during sewing operations to cause the edge gage to be shifted to a third position other than one determined by the arm at either limit of its movement.

3. An outsole shoe sewing machine having a work support, a needle, an edge gage, and a manually operable arm mounted for limited movement to move the edge gage during sewing operations to either of two positions determined by the limits of arm movement, in combination with a second manually operable arm for shifting the edge gage .to a position beyond that determined by the first-mentioned arm at either limit of its movement.

4. An outsole shoe sewing machine having a work support, a needle, an edge gage, and a manually operable arm vmounted for limited movement to move the edge gage during sewing operations to either of two positions determined by the limits of arm movement, in combination with a second manually operable arm for shifting'the edge gage to a position beyond that deter- 40 f mined by the first-mentioned arm at either limit of its movement, and locking means for preventing movement of the first-mentioned arm after the second arm has been operated to shift the edge gage to a position beyond that determined by the first -mentioned arm at either limit of its movement.

5. An outsole shoe sewing machine having a work support, a needle, an edge gage, and a member for moving the edge gage during sewing operations, in combination with manually operable connections for actuating said gage member selectively into any of three predetermined positions, and locking means for preventing continuous movement of said gage member from one position to another without stopping in each position.

6. An outsole shoe sewing machine having a work support, a needle, an edge gage, and a member for moving the edge gage during sewing operations, in combination with two sets of manually operable connections for actuating said member relatively into any of three positions, and looking means acting on said connections to prevent continuous movement of said member through any of said positions.

7. An outsole shoe sewing machine having a work support, a needle, an edge gage, and a member for moving the edge gage during sewing operations, in combination with connections for actuating said member relatively into any of three positions, comprising a manually operable arm, and a pin and cooperating cam slot for actuating the gage member when the arm is operated and for actuating said member independently of the arm when the pin and cam slot 234st; me

are moved relatively to shift the gage while the arm is stationary; i

8.1 An outsole shoe sewing machine having a work support, a; needle, an edge gauge, and a member for moving the edge gage during sewing operations, in combination with connections for actuating said member relatively into any of three positions, comprising a manually operable arm, a pin and cooperating cam slot for'actuating the gage member when the arm' is operated and for actuating said member independently of the arm when the pin and cam slot are moved relatively to shift the gage while the arm is stationary; and a second manually operable arm connected to move said pin and cam slot relatively.

9. An outsol'e' shoe sewing machine having a work support, a needle an. edge. gage, and a member for moving the edge gage. during sewing operations, in combination; with connections for actuating said member relativelyhito any of three positions, comprising a manually operable arm,, a pin and cooperating cam slot for actuating. the gage member when the arm is operated and for actuating said member independently of the arm when. the pin and cam slot are moved relatively to shift the gage while the arm is stationary, a. second manually operable arm connected to move said pin and cam slot relatively, and a locking slot for preventing movement of the second arm when the first-mentioned arm is in one position and: for preventing movement of the first-mentioned, arm when the pin and cam slot are in predetermined relative positions.

10. An outsole shoe sewing. machine having a work support, a needle, an edge gage, a rotatable cam member for moving the edge gage during sewing operations, a. gear connected to said cam, a segment meshing with the gear, and. a manually operable arm mounted for limited. movement and rotatableconoentrically with the. segment for actuating the segment to move the edge gage to either oftwopositions determined by the limits of. arm movement, incombination with means for connecting the arm and segment, comprising 'a pin. and: cam slotrelatively movable to cause: the

45 Number edge gage to be shifted to a third position while the arm remains stationary.

11-. An outsole shoe sewing machine having a work support, a needle; an edge gage, a rotatable cam member for moving the edge gage during sewing operations, a gear connected: to said cam, a segment meshing with the gear, and a manually operable arm mounted for limited movement and rotatable concentrically with the segment for actuating the segment-to movethe edge gage to either of two positions determined by the limits of arm movement, in combination with means for connecting the arm and segment, comprising a pin and cam slot relatively movable to cause the edge gage to be shifted to a third position while the armremains stationary, and a relatively stationary part of' the machine having an L-sha-ped slot to lock the pin against relative movement with the cam slot when the arm is'operated to one limit-of its-movement and to look the arm when the pin is moved to shift the edge gage to'said third position.-

121 An outsoie shoe sewing machine having: a work support, a needle, an edge gage, a rotatable cam member for moving the edge gage during sewing operations; a gear connected to said; cam, a rack'meshing the gear, a slide member to which the rack is secured; and a manually operable arm mounted for limited movement to move the edge gage to either of two positions determined by thelimits of arm movement, in combination with means for connecting the arm and slide, comprising a pin and cam slot relatively movable to cause the edge gage to: be shifted to a third position while the arm remains stationary, and a secondarm for moving the pin relati'vely to the cam slot;

FRED ASHWORTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

STATES PATENTS Name Date 13777385 Sj'ostrom Mar. 28, 1916 

